Agroforestry with pigs in Galicia, Spain
Description of system
Celta pigs or “porco celta” are an autochthonous pig breed of Galicia in North West Spain. The breed is believed to derive from northern-central European pig breeds. They are usually farmed in semi-extensive or extensive conditions in forest areas where chestnut (Castanea sativa Miller) and oak (Quercus robur L.) trees are dominant.
Initial stakeholder meeting
The meeting on 27 August 2014 was attended by 24 stakeholders and included a visit to a Celta pig farm. The positive aspects of the agroforestry system include pasture production and rural employment. Losses from predation and administrative burden were seen as negative issues. The presentations included the possible use of white mulberry (Morus alba L.) as fodder for the pigs.
If you would like to know about the activity of this group, please contact Rosa Mosquera Losada of the University of Santiago de Compostela (USC). (mrosa.mosquera.losada@usc.es)
Download the initial stakeholder report
An initial report was produced in September 2014.
Download the initial research and development protocol
A protocol focused on the use of Morus species was produced in March 2015.
Download the system description
A system description report providing an update on the research was produced in January 2016.
Lessons learnt
In September 2017, Rosa Mosquera Losada, Nuria Ferreiro Domínguez and colleagues at the University of Santiago de Compostela summarised the lessons learnt from their research on the productivity and fodder quality of four mulberry (Morus) cultivars across three sites in the temperate region of Galicia in North West Spain. Two cultivars were derived from stock in Cuba and two from stock in Galicia. Survival rates were 93 to 100% and, across the three sites, the mean height of the Morus alba tigrenda and the Morus alba criolla clones (60-65 cm) sourced from Cuba was greater than that for the two clones sourced from Galicia: Morus alba Illaverde (44 cm) and Morus nigra clones (17 cm). The dry matter production of the Morus nigra clone was also the lowest. There was no significant differences among the clones in the leaf and stem protein concentrations of the leaves and stems in the first year of establishment. The results suggest that the Cuban-derived mulberry clones are a promising source of animal fodder.